Garlic Shiitake and Bok Choy Salad with Spicy Orange Ginger Dressing

I had so much fun showing my friend Jacquie around the farmers' market this weekend.  We walked around and picked up some great stuff, gabbing mostly about how we can't wait for spring when there will be more produce for use to choose from.  I picked up some great organic shiitakes from Homestead Growers/Local Folks Foods.  I thought I might make some of Chef Chloe's garlic sesame soba noodles, but I just wasn't in the mood for a heavy noodle dish.  I decided to use some of the bok choy I got from Green B.E.A.N. and spruce up my bok choy salad (which is great, but is better for lunch, as it is pretty plain-and-simple).  I'm so glad I did, because the result was a great dinner salad!

Garlic Shiitake and Bok Choy Salad with Spicy Orange Ginger Dressing

Salad:

*1 Tbsp. sesame oil

*1 clove garlic, minced

*5-6 shiitake mushrooms, wiped clean and sliced into long strips

*1 Tbsp. orange juice

*dash tamari or soy sauce

*4-5 leaves bok choy, sliced

*3-4 green onions, sliced

*1 tsp. sesame seeds (black, white, or combo)

*Spicy Orange Ginger Dressing (see below)

Heat sesame oil in skillet; add garlic until fragrant.  Add mushrooms and sautée until soft and heated, then add orange juice and tamari/soy sauce.  Allow mushrooms to cook a few more minutes, until they have soaked up juice.

Plate the bok choy and top with sliced green onion, mushrooms, and garnish with sesame seeds.  Drizzle spicy orange ginger dressing over top.

Spicy Orange Ginger Dressing:

*1 large orange, juiced

*1/2 Tbsp. sesame oil

*1-2 tsp. tamari or soy sauce

*1/2 - 1 tsp. Vietnamese chili sauce

*1 tsp. minced fresh ginger

*dash cardamom

Whisk all ingredients together with fork or whisk.  Drizzle over Asian-style salad, like Garlic Shiitake and Bok Choy Salad).

Baby Bok Choy Salad

This simple salad is one of my favorites to make at home.  Baby bok choy is great when I want a change from traditional lettuce.  I've been getting some gorgeous heads at the Indy Winter Farmers Market lately.  Just can't pass up those beautiful babies.  The dressing is made with tamari soy sauce, which makes it perfect for those times I want something salty.  And the garlic and chili paste give it an excellent little kick. 

*1 head baby bok choy, rinsed and sliced on the diagonal
*3-4 scallions, sliced on the diagonal OR several slices of yellow onion (sliced very thin)
*1 tsp. black or white sesame seeds

Dressing:
*1 Tbsp. tamari soy sauce
*drizzle olive oil
*1 clove garlic, pressed or minced
*1/4-1/2 tsp. Vietnamese chili or chili garlic sauce (see note below)

Place bok choy on a plate and top with onions and sesame seeds.  Combine dressing ingredients and shake well; pour over salad.  Allow salad to set about 5 min to allow dressing to soak into the bok choy a bit.  Enjoy!

**Note:  Vitenamese chili sauce or chili garlic sauce can be found in the international or Asian section of your grocery store.  It looks like this:

It is pretty spicy, so use with caution.  You can, of course, leave it out...but I think it gives a great flavor to the other-wise fairly bland dressing.